grand national 2011 /

Saint Are Springs Sefton Surprise
08/04/11

1 Saint Are 33/1
2 Cantlow 28/1
3 Sparky May 4/1 Fav
19 ran

The Tim Vaughan-trained Saint Are ran out a surprise winner of the Grade One John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

The 33-1 chance, beaten in a Newbury handicap on his latest appearance, travelled well in the hands of Richard Johnson and was bang there turning for home, where the hard-pulling Sparky May came to challenge after being at the back of the field.

The two of them looked to have it between them, but Sparky May's early exertions took their toll and Saint Are pulled clear for a four-length win, with Cantlow grabbing second spot late on.

Johnson said: "The longer trip has helped, but he was running very well in a decent novice hurdle when he fell a couple of runs ago. It probably took his last run just to get his confidence back.

"Tim Vaughan has freshened him up and today he was always cantering. I saw Sparky May coming. She's very good and maybe Cheltenham took the edge off her. We were able to outbattle her today."

Vaughan added: "That's my first Grade One winner and I'm absolutely delighted. It's great for the team and for everyone involved. I couldn't be happier. We were second with Beshabar and Destroyer Deployed at Cheltenham and have hit the crossbar a few times.

"We had this horse as primed as we could and we missed Cheltenham to wait for a flat, galloping track like this. We thought he was spot-on, but they've got to go and do it on the day and have enough ability, and thankfully he did.

"It's the end of the novice season and we just had to take our chance. Everything was right for him and it's paid off. He's a chaser in the making. My preference would be to put him away now. He's an exciting horse."

Trainer Pat Rodford said of Sparky May: "She's been in the horsebox for seven hours because it broke down and I had to speak to my son to get another one. We should have been here at half nine but instead we got here at one.

"You never know how much that takes out of them but she's run really well again and that'll be it for this season. We'll go the same route next year."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Saint Are Tim Vaughan	R Johnson 11st 4lbs	33 - 1 Winner
2	Cantlow P R Webber	D Elsworth 11st 4lbs	28 - 1 4 lengths
3	Sparky May P R Rodford	K Burke 10st 11lbs	4 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
4	Fists Of Fury C Byrnes	Andrew J McNamara 11st 4lbs	25 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
5	Muldoon's Picnic K C Bailey	J M Maguire 11st 4lbs	40 - 1 4 1/2 lengths
6	Aikman J Ewart	R McGrath 11st 4lbs	28 - 1 8 lengths
7	Jetnova A King	R Thornton 11st 4lbs	18 - 1 6 lengths
8	Back In Focus J Howard Johnson	B Hughes 11st 4lbs	8 - 1 27 lengths
9	Cloudy Too Mrs S J Smith	Shane Byrne 11st 4lbs	100 - 1 14 lengths
10	For Non Stop Nick Williams	D Jacob 11st 4lbs	12 - 1 37 lengths
NonRunner	Our Island Tim Vaughan	T Scudamore 11st 4lbs	-